Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic - Swoop Bike Racing FAQ

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=============== Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic ===================
-------------------------- for Microsoft Xbox ----------------------------
.................... Swoop Bike Racing FAQ ver 1.0 .......................
. . . . . . . . . . . by Kevin "savior" Walter . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . kevin@sheoul.com . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . saviorfaq@yahoo.com . . . . . . . . . .
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======================================================== Table of Contents
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\____________________________
-- Legal Information
-- Introduction
-- Frequently Asked Questions
-- Basic Racing Strategies
-- Taris Map
-- Taris Strategy
-- Tatooine Map
-- Tatooine Strategy
-- Manaan Map
-- Manaan Strategy
-- Optional Manaan Racing
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======================================================== Legal Information
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\____________________________
This document is the sole property of me, Kevin Walter. Currently, the
only websites with permission to host this FAQ are:
http://faqs.ign.com
http://www.gamefaqs.com
http://www.sheoul.com
If you are interested in publishing this FAQ in any way, shape or form,
you may contact me at the above email address.
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============================================================= Introduction
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\____________________________
The first portion of this FAQ is answers to the most common questions
that are being asked on the message boards. The basic job of this
section is to quell rumors of Swoop Bike upgrades and racing on Korriban.
The next portion of the FAQ is a basic racing strategy section. Some of
the info from the first section will overlap here, but if you're just
looking for simple strategies and not an exact "walkthrough" for each
racing track, this is where to look.
Finally, there is also a section for each of the three racing tracks.
This section includes a map of each track with the best line that I've
found for getting a good time, as well as a specific strategy for racing
on that track. There may be a better line, but if you use the one I've
provided, you will get through it no problem.
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=============================================== Frequently Asked Questions
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\____________________________
QUESTION: Where can I get upgrades for my Swoop Bike?
ANSWER: Nowhere. You cannot get any upgrade parts for your Swoop Bike.
o----------------o
QUESTION: Should I just tap the A button through the entire race?
ANSWER: No. I have run races on a perfect line while tapping the
A button the entire race and gotten significantly lower times, every
time. It would appear that every time you press the A button, your bike
is slowed slightly. So if you're tapping it for the entire race, it
will add up and you will get a much slower time.
o----------------o
QUESTION: Where is the best place to sell Motta the Hutt's racing bonds?
ANSWER: You can sell them wherever you want. Everyone gives the same
price for them, as far as I know. NOTE: If anyone has found
a place that gives more, please email me to let me know)
o----------------o
QUESTION: Is there Swoop Bike racing on Korriban?
ANSWER: No, there is not.
o----------------o
QUESTION: How do I complete the Nico Senvi mission without Dark points?
ANSWER: Speak to Motta the Hutt about Nico and get all the relative
info. Then complete all of the 3 racing tiers on Tatooine.
After doing this, Nico will discuss the contract with you, but
if you tell him to take the deal with Motta, you will get
Dark Side points. Instead, tell him that you'll try to talk
Motta into giving him a better deal. Then speak to Motta
about Nico and tell him that you think he should give Nico a
better deal. Next, use the [Persuade] option. Then tell him
that you'll bury him (or something like that) if he won't
co-operate. That should open up a [Force Persuade] option,
which you should choose. He'll agree to a better deal, and
then all you have to do is tell Nico about it. OR... if
you don't have Force Persuade as an option, just put
Canderous in your active party and try threatening Motta
again. Canderous should back up your threat and that will
still get the job done, sans those pesky Dark Side points.
<thanks to Uriel for the Canderous info>
-------------------------- OR -------------------------------
ANSWER: First, make sure Bastilla is in your party. Before I
finished the races I spoke to the Hutt. I don't remember but
I asked him about Nico. I asked him to give a better contract.
I tried persuade, but failed. I then won the first 2 races and
tried talking to Nico, but he blew me off. I talked to the Hutt
again. Again I tried (and failed) to persuade him. This time
Bastilla says, "Enough!" and force persuades the Hutt. I
thought I'd get DS points for sure, but didn't.
<thanks to chende1 for the Bastila info>
o----------------o
QUESTION: How do I avoid Hukta Jax's bullying on Manaan?
ANSWER: See the section marked "Optional Manaan Racing" just after
the Manaan Strategy. If you go this route, you won't have
to deal with Hukta Jax's slimy-nosed bully tactics.
o----------------o
QUESTION: Where is the Swoop Track Registration on Taris?
ANSWER: Swoop racing on Taris is part of the game's plot. You will
come across it by playing the game, not as a side quest.
o----------------o
QUESTION: Where is the Swoop Track Registration on Tatooine?
ANSWER: When in the Anchorhead area of Tatooine, bring up your map
and scroll through the locations on it. You will see
the Swoop Registration building in the southern area.
Talk to Motta the Hutt inside for info.
o----------------o
QUESTION: Where is the Swoop Track Registration on Manaan?
ANSWER: It's located in the Ahto East area in the southern section.
Just head east from the Ahto City East Central area. Talk
to Sslamoth behind the counter for info.
o----------------o
QUESTION: After beating Hukta Jax on Manaan he says that he will get
me back but not on Manaan, where does he attack me at?
ANSWER: Not completely positive about this one, but I believe he will
attack you after the side quest that has you meeting with the
art dealer in one of the Manaan hangars.
o----------------o
QUESTION: After winning the races on Manaan the person says that he
will make contact with you when the other races begin, does
this ever happen?
ANSWER: Nope, never happens.
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================================================== Basic Racing Strategies
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\____________________________
o--- Avoid Obstacles
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it's worth mentioning anyway.
When going for the fastest time possible, you should never hit
even one obstacle.
o--- Don't Tap The (A) Button
I have seen differences as great as half a second between
identical runs where I tapped (A) through the entire run and when
I pressed it only when necessary (start of race and when shift
meter is full). Tapping (A) when it is not necessary does slow
you down.
o--- Keep A Fluid Line
In the beginning of the race (on all three tracks) you will slalom
to hit all of the boost pads that come by. In the middle section,
you will want to avoid going too far out of your way to hit a
single boost pad. In the end section, when you are moving at a
high speed, it is much more important to keep a somewhat straight
line to the finish, even if it means missing several peripheral
boost pads.
o--- Save Before You Race
You can end up spending a lot of credits paying for entry fees to
race before you've mastered a track. As long as you save your
game before you start racing, you can always load up that save
after losing 5 races in a row (and 500 credits from your wallet).
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================================================================ Taris Map
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o-------------------o
| MAP KEY |
| |
| Boost Pad = [01] |
| Obstable = [X] |
| |
o-------------------o
Use this map to plot a line through the track. The boost pads are
numbered in the order that you should hit them. A boost pad numbered
00 is one that you should avoid trying to hit.
FINISH
__________________
------------------
[X]
[00] [00]
[19]
[X]
[X] [00]
[00]
[18]
[X]
[17]
[X] [X]
[16]
[15]
[X]
[X] [00]
[14]
[X]
[00]
[13]
[X]
[12]
[X]
[11]
[10]
[X] [X]
[X]
[09]
[00][X]
[X]
[08]
[X]
[07][X]
[X]
[06]
[X]
[05]
[X]
[04]
[03]
[02][X]
[X]
[01]
__________________
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START
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=========================================================== Taris Strategy
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\____________________________
1st Time To Beat .......... 0:38:43
This may not make sense, but you actually want to do poorly in your
first heat. You want to get a time around 0:37:00. The reason for this
is because whatever time you post is going to be beat right after your
heat, but the new time posted will always be just slightly better than
what you just posted. If you run a great heat, you'll have to run an
even better one to clear this mission. But if you run a terrible heat
that just barely beats the 0:38:43 mark you need to pass, you'll be
able to clear this mission with an easy run of around 0:35:00. So like
I said, you want to run a heat of about 0:37:00. I will now tell you
how exactly to do that.
Allow the race to begin and DO NOT PRESS (A) RIGHT AWAY. Instead, wait
until the timer hits 0:06:00 and then press (A) to start moving. Now, it
is very important that you do not move your Swoop Bike at all left or
right. Allow your shift meter to fill and press (A) when it does. Allow
it to fill again and press (A) again when it does. You should hit a
boost pad after this, and then hit an obstacle right after... this is
supposed to happen. Your shift meter should start filling again, and
just after hitting another boost pad it should be full. Press (A) to
shift when this happens. That's it, don't move your Swoop Bike, don't
press the (A) button, just leave the controls alone. You should run
across several more boost pads and cross the finish line right around
the 0:37:00 mark.
If you come in a little quicker, that's okay. If you come in a little
later, that should still be okay, as long as you're still below
the 0:38:43 mark that you need to beat. If you're beyond that mark,
re-read the above strategy because you're doing something wrong.
After this time is posted you will be congratulated and told that
someone just beat your time. Go back to the registration table and
you should find that the new time to beat is right around 0:36:75.
2nd Time To Beat .......... (approximately) 0:36:75 (Redros)
That's barely faster than your previous time, and if you remember,
we waited 6 seconds before starting the race. All you have to do
for the second heat is press (A) to start the race right away
rather than waiting, and then employ the same strategy as above.
Or you could run the race normally, trying to hit as many boost
pads as you can, and unless you're the worst Swoop Bike racer
in the galaxy, you're going to post a time better than 37 seconds.
If you actually want to try for a good time, use the line I've
set out in the above map.
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============================================================= Tatooine Map
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\____________________________
o-------------------o
| MAP KEY |
| |
| Boost Pad = [01] |
| Obstable = [X] |
| |
o-------------------o
Use this map to plot a line through the track. The boost pads are
numbered in the order that you should hit them. A boost pad numbered
00 is one that you should avoid trying to hit. The general area
where you should be when shifting is marked on the map, as well.
FINISH
__________________
------------------
[24]
[X]
[23]
[X][00]
[X] [22]
[21]
[00]
[20]
[X][19]
[X]
[18]
[X]
[17]
[X]
[16]
[00]
[X]
[15]
[14]
[X]
[X]
[13]
[X]
[12]
[00]
[X]
<--------PRESS (A)
[X]
[11]
[X]
[10] [X]
[X]
[09]
[08]
[X] [07]
<--------PRESS (A)
[X]
[06]
[X]
[05]
[X]
[04]
[03] <--------PRESS (A)
[02] [X]
[X]
[01] <--------PRESS (A)
__________________<--------PRESS (A)
------------------
START
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======================================================== Tatooine Strategy
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\____________________________
1st Tier Time To Beat .......... 0:23:90 (Garm Totryl)
2nd Tier Time To Beat .......... 0:23:29 (Yuka Rill)
3rd Tier Time To Beat .......... 0:22:51 (Zoriis Bafka)
Unlike Taris, the time you set on your first race will not have any
effect on what times you will have to beat for the following races.
Because of that, you actally want to try to get the best time possible
on all of your runs.
Start by tapping (A) to begin the race. Your shift meter should fill
just as you are going over the boost pad [01], so tap (A) a few times
while you're going over it. Swerve left to hit [02] then back to the
right to hit [03], tapping (A) as you go over it (your shift meter
should be filled right about then).
Another left, then right, then left slalom for [04], [05] and [06]. Tap
(A) a few times between [06] and [07] to shift again. Continue to the
right to hit [08], cut to the left to hit [09] and [10] and then cut
all the way to the right to hit [11]. You'll see a boost pad to the
left that will be tempting, but avoid cutting all that way to hit it
as [12] is coming up right in front of you. Just before you hit [12],
however, your shift meter should be filled again, so tap (A) a few
times. Cut hard left to hit [13] and then to the middle of the track
to hit [14] immediately followed by [15] and set up the final stretch.
At this point, if you've done everything correctly without hitting
any obstacles, you will be in prime position to finish below 0:22:50
with ease. There are 10 boost pads up ahead either in the center or
on the right side of the track (stay away from the left side), and
if you hit more than 5 of them you should finish below 0:22:50. The
path that I recommend in the map above will have you hitting 8 more
boost pads, and I've finished with a time as low as 0:22:18 while
only hitting 7 of them.
NOTE: After shifting up the 4 times that I've noted in the
above strategy, there is no need to press (A) again in the
race. Your meter will fill up again, but pressing (A) will
not shift you into a higher gear.
__________________________________________________________________________
=============================================================== Manaan Map
_____________________________________________
\____________________________
o-------------------o
| MAP KEY |
| |
| Boost Pad = [01] |
| Obstable = [X] |
| |
o-------------------o
Use this map to plot a line through the track. The boost pads are
numbered in the order that you should hit them. A boost pad numbered
00 is one that you should avoid trying to hit. The general area
where you should be when shifting is marked on the map, as well.
FINISH
__________________
------------------
[X]
[22]
[X]
[00]
[00]
[X]
[21]
[X]
[00]
[20]
[X]
[19]
[18]
[X]
[00]
[X]
[17]
[X]
[00]
[16]
[00]
[15]
[14]
[x]
[13]
[X]
[X]
[00]
<--------PRESS (A)
[12]
[X] [x]
[11]
[X]
[10]
[X]
[09]
[X]
[08]
[X]
[07]
<--------PRESS (A)
[X]
[06]
[X]
[05]
[X]
[04]
[X]
<--------PRESS (A)
[03]
[X]
[02]
<--------PRESS (A)
[01]
__________________<--------PRESS (A)
------------------
START
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========================================================== Manaan Strategy
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\____________________________
Round 1 Time To Beat .......... 0:23:82 (Queedle)
Round 2 Time To Beat .......... 0:23:25 (Casandra Mateil)
Round 3 Time To Beat .......... 0:22:50 (Hukta Jax)
Prize Money:
Round 1 .......... 500 Credits
Round 2 .......... 2000 Credits
Round 3 .......... 5000 Credits
Manaan is actually a very easy track to run. The boost pads stand out
against the blue water background so you can see them easily from a
distance. And you don't really have to swerve much to either side of
the track, as most of the boost pads you want to hit are in the middle
area. Lastly, there is really only one obstacle that you will have to
actively avoid, between [13] and [14].
The only other tricky part to this track is to remain in a straight
line when going over pads [15] and [16]. The two boost tracks (one
immediately following each) will look tempting, but don't swerve
right to hit them or you'll miss both [16] and [17] and probably
hit the obstacle.
With the run listed on the map above I have been able to consistently
have times around 0:22:26. That means that you should still be able to
miss one of the boost pads in the end section and still beat Hukta Jax'
time.
o---------- OPTIONAL MANAAN RACING ----------o
Round 1 Time To Beat .......... 0:23:25 (Casandra Mateil)
Round 2 Time To Beat .......... 0:22:50 (Hukta Jax)
Round 3 Time To Beat .......... 0:22:48 (Queedle)
Here's a neat way to gain Light Side Points and force yourself to race
a (slightly) faster time on the Manaan swoop track. Before taking any
runs on the track, talk to the Ithorain hanging around the registration
area named Queedle. Make general conversation with him and he will tell
you that he needs upgrades for his bike. Give him the 500 credits, and
he'll thank you and tell you to come back in a day to see how he's
done. You'll lose 500 Credits (for now) and gain some Light Side points.
Next, go up and register for a race. You'll see that you're competing
against Qeedle's poor time of 0:23:82, but don't worry. Start the race
and make sure you DO NOT BEAT HIS TIME. You'll lose your 100 Credits
but register for another run and look who has the Round 1 time to beat
now... that's right, Casandra Mateil. Hukta Jax will be in Round 2 and
a new Sector Champion, Qeedle, will have the Round 1 time to beat.
It's only 2 one hundredths of a second faster, so it shouldn't be too
hard to still become Sector Champion. After you beat his time, go talk
to Queedle. He'll demand you take back your 500 Credits plus you'll
get even more Light Side points. Not a bad deal.
<thanks to Uriel for info on the Qeedle side quest>
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============================ END TRANSMISSION ============================
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